{"id":240265,"date":"2025-12-10T18:59:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T18:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/?page_id=240265"},"modified":"2025-12-18T16:45:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:45:51","slug":"peering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/our-work\/connectivity\/peering\/","title":{"rendered":"Peering: Building an Affordable and Reliable Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Peering: Building an Affordable and Reliable Internet<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Building a solid Internet foundation takes time, effort, and trust.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Building a solid Internet foundation takes time, effort, and trust.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you needed to send a gift to your neighbor, you wouldn\u2019t mail it across the country and back first, would you? For much of the world, this is how Internet traffic is routed. This is why we need Internet exchange points (IXPs), which allow networks to exchange traffic locally, and a sustainable peering infrastructure to keep the Internet resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peering happens when networks agree to exchange traffic with each other through IXPs. Networks can keep traffic local, provide faster connections, and improve the experience of people relying on them. Because they no longer need to route traffic via expensive international links, connectivity costs drop, too. They also improve overall network performance and resiliency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Peering: Building an Affordable and Reliable Internet<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Building a solid Internet foundation takes time, effort, and trust.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you needed to get a git to your neighbor, you wouldn\u2019t mail it across the country and back first, would you? For much of the world, this is how Internet traffic is routed. This is why we need Internet exchange points (IXPs), which allow networks to exchange traffic locally, and a sustainable peering infrastructure to keep the Internet resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peering happens when networks agree to exchange traffic with each other through IXPs. Networks can keep traffic local, provide faster connections, and improve the experience of people relying on them. Because they no longer need to route traffic via expensive international links, connectivity costs drop, too. They also improve overall network performance and resiliency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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What Are Internet Peering and Internet Exchange Points?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What Are Internet Peering and Internet Exchange Points?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Peering is when Internet networks connect directly to exchange traffic locally without charging each other instead of routing it through national or regional networks, which can make data traffic slower and more expensive. By peering\u2014often at Internet exchange points (IXPs)<\/a>\u2014networks can route data more efficiently, reducing latency and costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At IXPs or other interconnection facilities, networks such as Internet service providers, mobile operators, and content delivery networks establish direct links to exchange traffic. This setup allows data to flow straight between networks, creating faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective Internet connections for users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peering infrastructure keeps data exchanges local rather than sending them through distant routes. Without it, even traffic between nearby users\u2014like a video call in the same town\u2014may travel across the country or abroad, causing delays and interruptions. Local peering improves speed, reliability, and resilience, helping communities stay connected even during international disruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a sustainable and reliable peering infrastructure, you get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n